The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-04
NEED OF ALAW AND ORDER LEAGUE.
Rev. r. Y. Hunters Address in Support of o
Reform Movement of Christians.

Y
Reform Movement of Christians.
The first meeting of the Ministerial Association
since the summer vacation held yesterday
morning in the parlors of the Y. NJ. c. A. build
ing. The pastors who were admitted &c
membership in the association were Revs John
S. Tevis, of Fletcher-place Church; N. G.
Dickey, of the Eleventh Presbyterian; NJ. B
Hyde of Hall Place: w. W. Lounsberry, of the
Methodist Protestant, and l.. j. Lackey.
1.-The Necessity for a Law and Order League
in Indianapolis" was the subject for considera-
ton, and it was introduced in paper prepared
by Rev. r. " Hunter, in which he said: 1T ia
a we'll known fact that many of the laws dis
regarded in Indianapolis. For instance, the sa-
loon keepers and their friends refuse to obey the
law which commands the closing of their places
OF business on the Sabbath day. Siuce Super
intendent Travis came into Office, few months
ago. between ninety and one hundred
arrests have been made of persons who
either selling, or supposed to be selling,
intoxicants on that day. Those of US who have
studied the question closely know that the fewest
number of those saloon keepers who violate the
law appre hended. During the term of the
police superintendent imm eda tey preceding
Mr.. Travis, but IL arrests were made between
March % and November 10 This superin tend
ent seemed to be the tool of that class who are
opposed to the enforcement of the law. We have
learn ed that our officials aud certain influential
people are in league with the lawless elements of
society. Our laws at the present time are being
fairly enforced; the time has been when they
were not We persuaded that the interested
elements are now preparing to gain control of
unic ipal affairs where thew can care ten
DERBY for the law-breaker By this we do not
mean that all are good in one party. and that all
bad in another. We simply mean what we
know to be true. that there is element that
would love to this society thrown open to
crime. The liquor interests with its camp fol-
lowers, is the leader in this inlqurous scheme.
This assertion is found to be true wnen
alyze the class of people who are leaders in this
business.
In discussing this subject further MIR. Hunter
said: again the election laws broken
this city only last autumn. There has been no
denial OF the fact that there was a changing of
the tally sheers There is not much question as
to who the forgers we're, and although the
courts failed to find the guilty parties. yet the
court of public opinion has them located. These
leaders in lawlessness seem to have a large in
Huence among certain people. Their influence
and their violations seem to be too much for
the safety or the healthfulness of our city. We
need standard of public opinion that will rele-
gate this class of criminals to the shades where
they properly belong.
In speaking of the Liquor League. he says:
"There is method in the madness of the Liquor
League. Brewers, wholesale and retail liquor
dealers. unite on the point of protecting
their interests. They are aggressive. Money
was
perance by the liauor-deaers of the whole coun-
try. The temperance fight of Michigan the
fight of the temperance people of Michigan
against the whisky interests of the United
States. Money was sent to Kansas and Iowa a
few years ago to help the of the anti
temperance people. They drop politics
when their interests are involved
We may learn wisdom from them.
Christians should be willing to drop politics, to
break loose from party affiliations, when a ques-
ton of morals is to be settled. 1t is of small mat
ter whether am Democrat a Republican
so long as am conscen tious and in favor of law.
morality and good government We must meet
this fend On its own ground. The liquor inter-
ests manpuiates primaries, elections, Judges.
juries Justices the police sheriff and constable.
The Cbristian people should begin at the bottom
and work along this line The work of league"
would be to discover crime and apprehend the
criminal. To prosecute to employ counsel, TO
encourage officials in the performance OF their
duties; to create a healthy and moral sentiment.
and TO be the terror of evil-doers generally
Some of you noticed. possibly, the recent work
of the Flaw and order league" in Bloomington,
Ill. Such batch of Indictments
brought forward in that city they were the
means of bringing fortnight ago. law and
order league" is making it red hot for crime
and criminals in Fort Wayne. of this State
Such league would be no experiment. 1t has
been we'll tried in different parts of the country
at different times. We would only organize for
our self protection, they organize to shield
and protect themselves in crime They
ganize to dehauch youth, destroy
to make law Kissing and morality
a snare. We would organize to lift up men, to
protect the home, to make children happy and
good, to make women smile and to preserve So
ciety. You noticed in the papers only day
two since that tho distiliers and wholesale
liquor dealers of Pittsburg and vicinity have
formed organization to fight the temperance
movement in Pennsylvania. In addition. they
imp pose initiation fee of $50 per member. and
each member is taxed one half of per cent of
the amount of his sales If the of dark
ness and imm orality afford to pay dearly
Tor what they want, 1t seems to me
that the soldiers of the ought
to be no less liberal, less in
EST and no less wise. The good citizens
IF this city ought to unite and carry ont those
things which are right and which are necessary
TO good government, and which the only
surance of life of peace and prosperity for the
coming generations. To fail with the right upon
our side, with the mum bers which We possess and
with the appliances which are at hand would be
.rayesty our civilization and upon relie
on. As / have said. law and order leagues"
have succeeded elsewhere, and there ! reason
hundred persistent bnt fearless men. backed Wi b
means and with public sentiment, could revolL-
ionIZe things in this city
Dr. Jeffrey, in commenting on the paper, COM
nended the spirit Of IT, but he thought the mat
er should be fully considered before definite
action taken upon it. Personally, he
willing to go so far to do his forming
law and order party IN local campaigns. pro-
riding neither of the old parties showed will
ngness TO do something toward suppressing
awessness. He moved that the subject-matter
'e referred to a special COMMITTEE. with
power to call special meeting, at which their
eport should be made. Il was decided that this
Meeting should be held the Y. NJ. &. a. par
ors on Thursday morning at 10 o'clock. ana the
one mittee WAS made to consist of Revs Hunter.
fondthaer, Hendrckson, GantZ and Lamport
They were instructed TO request the committee
# one hundred, AZ least representation of
{. to meet with the association.